Butterfly joint
Encyclopedia
A Butterfly joint is a type of joint
used either to hold two or more wooden boards together or to keep two halves of a board that have already started to split from splitting further. They may also be used to stabilize the core of a knothole, preventing it from dropping out over time.
A butterfly joint resembles two dovetails
connected at the narrow part. A negative of the hole is cut out of the board the butterfly will be placed in and the butterfly is then fitted, keeping the joint together. The wood used for the butterfly is usually a contrasting wood, often walnut.
Butterfly joints are common in the work of George Nakashima
. They were also used in repairing cracks in tabletops in the 18th century. The "butterfly" was installed on the underside of the tabletop to stabilize a crack. When the butterfly is fitted, if cut correctly, it will draw the crack together when pressed in and inhibit further movement of the crack.
Woodworking joints
Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining together pieces of wood, to create furniture, structures, toys, and other items. Some wood joints employ fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, while others use only wood elements. The characteristics of wooden joints - strength, flexibility,...
used either to hold two or more wooden boards together or to keep two halves of a board that have already started to split from splitting further. They may also be used to stabilize the core of a knothole, preventing it from dropping out over time.
A butterfly joint resembles two dovetails
Dovetail joint
A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joint technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart , the dovetail joint is commonly used to join the sides of a drawer to the front....
connected at the narrow part. A negative of the hole is cut out of the board the butterfly will be placed in and the butterfly is then fitted, keeping the joint together. The wood used for the butterfly is usually a contrasting wood, often walnut.
Butterfly joints are common in the work of George Nakashima
George Nakashima
George Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi Nakashima( was a Japanese-American woodworker, architect, and furniture maker who was one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design and a father of the American craft movement...
. They were also used in repairing cracks in tabletops in the 18th century. The "butterfly" was installed on the underside of the tabletop to stabilize a crack. When the butterfly is fitted, if cut correctly, it will draw the crack together when pressed in and inhibit further movement of the crack.